2019 Audi A7

2018 Volvo V60 Cross Country

Safety

The A7’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The V60 Cross Country doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The A7 has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The V60 Cross Country doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the A7 Prestige helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The V60 Cross Country doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The A7 Premium Plus/Prestige has a standard Top and Corner View Cameras to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The V60 Cross Country only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The Audi A7 weighs 412 to 531 pounds more than the Volvo V60 Cross Country. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2018 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Audi vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Audi 25th in initial quality. With 17 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo is ranked 29th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2018 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Audi 13th in reliability, above the industry average. With 21 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo is ranked 22nd.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ December 2018 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 22 places higher in reliability than Volvo.

Engine

As tested in Motor Trend the Audi A7 is faster than the Volvo V60 Cross Country:

A7

V60

Zero to 60 MPH

4.9 sec

6.7 sec

Quarter Mile

13.5 sec

15.2 sec

Speed in 1/4 Mile

102.7 MPH

89.8 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The A7 has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the V60 Cross Country (19.3 vs. 17.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The A7 has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The V60 Cross Country doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Audi A7 higher (5 out of 10) than the Volvo V60 Cross Country (3). This means the A7 produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the V60 Cross Country every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The A7 offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The V60 Cross Country doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The A7’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The V60 Cross Country doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the A7’s brake rotors are larger than those on the V60 Cross Country:

A7

V60

Front Rotors

13.3 inches

11.8 inches

Rear Rotors

13 inches

11.9 inches

The A7’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the V60 Cross Country are solid, not vented.

The A7 stops shorter than the V60 Cross Country:

A7

V60

60 to 0 MPH

116 feet

120 feet

Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the A7 has larger standard tires than the V60 Cross Country (245/45R19 vs. 235/50R18). The A7’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the V60 Cross Country (255/40R20 vs. 235/50R18).

The A7’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the V60 Cross Country’s standard 50 series tires. The A7 Prestige’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the V60 Cross Country’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the A7 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the V60 Cross Country. The A7 Prestige’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the V60 Cross Country.

Suspension and Handling

The A7 offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The V60 Cross Country’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the A7’s wheelbase is 6 inches longer than on the V60 Cross Country (115.2 inches vs. 109.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the A7 is 2.9 inches wider in the front and 2.4 inches wider in the rear than on the V60 Cross Country.

The A7 Prestige handles at .86 G’s, while the V60 Cross Country T5 Platinum pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

Cargo Capacity

The V60 Cross Country’s spare tire is stored in the cargo area, where it diminishes the useable cargo capacity and interferes with loading and unloading. The A7’s spare is out of the way under the trunk floor.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the A7’s power liftgate can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The V60 Cross Country doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the A7 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the V60 Cross Country. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Audi service is better than Volvo. J.D. Power ranks Audi third in service department satisfaction. With a 29% lower rating, Volvo is ranked 14th.

Ergonomics

The A7’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The V60 Cross Country doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The A7 Prestige has a standard heads-up display that projects speed and other key instrumentation readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The V60 Cross Country doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

If the windows are left open on the A7 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the V60 Cross Country can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the A7 has standard extendable sun visors. The V60 Cross Country doesn’t offer extendable visors.

A power rear sunshade is optional in the A7 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The V60 Cross Country doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the A7 keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in summer. The V60 Cross Country doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.